Cash,Currency or Travel Cheques

[JANUARYBABE]

We are going on 27.06.08 cant decide how to take our spends,should we take a little cash,currency and the rest in travel cheq and is it best to take stirling or lira cheques?

[Diane Rigby]

If you have a Nationwide flex account as we do I usually put my spending money in there and take it out of the cash point as there are no fees with this card for withdrawing money from ATM's. I do take about £100 for bartering at the markets and shops and take about £100 lira for the first day or so. Last year we managed to get some travelers checks with no commission so took our spends in them. We took Stirling and our apartments changed them for no commission and a good rate. Hope this helps. Di.

[mazz]

Hi Januarybabe

I would suggest you take a mixture, as you've said - enough lira to see you through the first day, english notes and sterling travellers cheques - you can change cash or cheques at most supermarkets so you don't need to worry about finding change office (you'll also get a better rate a a shop!). You will just need to remember to write your passport number on the reverse of each cheque.

Mazz

[Mags23]

I've never taken more than £50 in lira, (just in case) but never found it really necessary, we always take sterling, lock it in the safe, and change if we have to, most places like "english money" and give a good exchange rate. We only need lira for the dolmus or small purchases like water when its not worth changing money for. If you buy water, or odds and ends in pounds you can take the change in lira which we find enough to see us through. Its indivudual choice really - read other peoples replies and decide which is right for you.

[KarenH]

we have always taken a small amount in lira, the rest in cash.....and changed it as and when we have needed too....

our friends have a nationwide account and use the ATM's

[Fanny]

JanuaryBabe
there's no "best" way of doing it - we all have our own preferences......... I'm even taking some left over Euro from my hol in Lanzarote earlier this year
cash is only insured up to a certain amount if it goes missing, but with TCs you need to present your passport
changing into Lira is usually best in resort

there are lots of posts on this if you use "search" at the top of the screen

we take about £50 worth of Lira and the rest in £ss which we put in the safe and change at the supermarket daily